The Art Deco Society Of California

What The Art Deco Society Of California does

The Art Deco Society of California (ADSC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization founded in 1984 and headquartered in Fairfax, California. Its mission is to increase public awareness of the Art Deco era through the preservation and promotion of its art, architecture, music, design, and popular culture. The organization serves Bay Area residents, Art Deco enthusiasts, vintage lifestyle practitioners, preservation professionals, and the broader public through educational programs, cultural events, advocacy campaigns for landmark buildings (Castro Theatre, California Theatre Berkeley, El Rey Theatre), and an annual Preservation Awards program that has honored restoration projects, individuals, and businesses for over 40 years.

The ADSC's core "products" are flagship annual events (the Art Deco Preservation Ball — 41st edition in 2026 — and the Gatsby Picnic), lectures and educational programming, and a membership program managed through ClubExpress with annual and lifetime tiers. The organization also operates the "Deco by the Bay" resource guide covering theaters, museums, restaurants, and landmarks. There is no proprietary technology platform; the underlying stack consists of Squarespace (website), ClubExpress (membership portal), Eventbrite (ticketing), Constant Contact (newsletter), and PayPal (donations). Revenue is generated via membership dues, tax-deductible donations, event ticket sales, and vendor/sponsor fees. Distribution is community-led, primarily through in-person events at marquee Bay Area venues (Hibernia Bank, History Park, California Historical Radio Society) and digital channels (website, email, Facebook).

The organization is volunteer-run with 1–10 people (no paid staff disclosed), governed by a board of directors, and partnered with sister Art Deco societies (LA, NY, ICADS), the Greater Bay Area Costumers Guild, Living New Deal, and various Bay Area cultural institutions. There is no venture capital, private equity, or institutional investor involvement; the ADSC is governed by and for its members rather than external shareholders.

Name

The Art Deco Society Of California

Legal name

Art Deco Society of California

Website

https://artdecosocietyofcalifornia.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Art Deco Society of California is a volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit that preserves Art Deco heritage in California through annual events (Preservation Ball, Gatsby Picnic), a 40+ year Preservation Awards program, landmark advocacy, and educational programming serving members, preservation professionals, and the broader Bay Area public.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Heritage Preservation

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Historical Sites (71212), Historical Sites (712120)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty) (BPAGAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cultural Heritage Institutions (Archives, Historic Houses, Monuments Foundations) (THAJADAI), Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB)

Keywords

• Heritage preservation services
• Cultural nonprofit organization
• Art deco events
• Educational preservation programs
• Historic advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Fairfax

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual and lifetime membership fees provide recurring revenue. Annual members receive reduced event pricing; lifetime members receive free admission to public programs and a commemorative ADSC pin.
2. Donations and Contributions: Tax-deductible donations of any size are solicited on the website and at events. The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with EIN 94-2861596.
3. Event Ticket Sales: Revenue generated from paid admission to events including the Art Deco Preservation Ball, Gatsby Picnic, How to Gatsby, Member Mixers, lectures, and the Silent Auction. Members receive discounted pricing.
4. Sponsorships and Vendor Fees: Vendors and sponsors contribute fees to participate in events such as How to Gatsby, which features vendors selling Art Deco merchandise.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Art Deco Society of California is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization that promotes and preserves Art Deco-era (1920s-1940s) art, architecture, music, design, and popular culture. It delivers annual events such as the Art Deco Preservation Ball and Gatsby Picnic, operates a membership program with annual and lifetime tiers, runs a Preservation Awards program recognizing restoration efforts, and provides educational lectures, advocacy, and curated resource guides for the Bay Area's Art Deco heritage.

Product overview

The Art Deco Society of California is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to preserving California's Art Deco heritage through education, recognition, and fundraising. The organization operates a membership program managed through ClubExpress, offering annual and lifetime tiers with event discounts and reciprocal access to partner organizations. Its core offerings include signature events (the Art Deco Preservation Ball and Gatsby Picnic), a Preservation Awards program honoring 40+ years of preservation efforts, regular lectures and educational programs, volunteer opportunities, and a donation program. The organization does not offer software products or technology services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Art Deco Preservation Ball

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 40 years of presenting Preservation Awards to buildings, businesses, non-profits, and individuals
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Presidio TheatreminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 16 August 2025The Presidio Theatre in San Francisco hosted the world premiere of 'A Balcony on the World' documentary on August 16, 2025. The SF National Maritime Park Association organized the premiere at this venue.
• Greater Bay Area Costumers GuildcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe ADSC partnered with the Greater Bay Area Costumers Guild (GBACG) to develop its Harassment Policy, Anti-Racism and Inclusivity Action Plan, and official Code of Conduct. The partnership was formalized in 2020-2021 and represents a deep strategic collaboration on organizational governance and community standards.
• SF National Maritime Park AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe SF National Maritime Park Association co-presented the documentary 'A Balcony on the World' about the Maritime National Park's Aquatic Park Bathhouse. President Darlene Plumtree provided partial funding for the film. The SF National Maritime Park Association received an ADSC Preservation Award in 1986.
• KQEDminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKQED, the public media station, aired the documentary 'A Balcony on the World' on August 22 at 8 pm, providing broadcast distribution for the Maritime National Park documentary produced in partnership with SF National Maritime Park Association.
• California Historical Radio SocietycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe California Historical Radio Society, located at 2152 Central Avenue, Alameda, CA 94501, serves as a key venue partner for ADSC events including the Member Mixer, How to Gatsby, and Silent Auction. The ADSC holds multiple events annually at this location.
• History Park San Jose / City of San JosecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHistory Park in San Jose, a City of San Jose property covering over 10 acres, became the new venue for the annual Gatsby Picnic starting in 2025, after the event moved from the Dunsmuir Hellman Estate. The entire park is reserved for ticketed attendees during the event.
• Hibernia San Francisco (Hibernia Bank)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe historic Hibernia Bank building at 1 Jones Street, San Francisco, is the venue for the annual Art Deco Preservation Ball. Described as 'one of San Francisco's most historical buildings,' it serves as a flagship event venue for the organization.
• Art Deco Society of Los AngelesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe ADSC supports sister organization Art Deco Society of Los Angeles in preservation efforts (e.g., Sontag Drugstore Building landmarking). Both organizations collaborate on ICADS events including World Art Deco Month each April.
• Art Deco Society of New YorkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe ADSC supported Art Deco Society of New York's efforts to landmark the Art Deco lobby of New York City's McGraw-Hill Building. Both organizations collaborated via ICADS for World Art Deco Month events.
• International Coalition of Art Deco Societies (ICADS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerICADS coordinates the annual World Art Deco Month in April, bringing together Art Deco societies worldwide for virtual programming. The ADSC participates with its own events, and members receive cross-society discounts.
• Living New DealminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe ADSC collaborates with the Living New Deal website, which documents public works of the 1930s and early 1940s. The ADSC blog references Living New Deal research for post office mural documentation and has featured their content in articles about New Deal art.
• Stookey's Club ModerneminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStookey's Club Moderne provides cocktail services for the Art Deco Preservation Ball. The bar is a noted Art Deco establishment and Deco Drinks events have been held there.
• Alex Mendham and His OrchestraminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAlex Mendham and His Orchestra provides live music for the Art Deco Preservation Ball, performing 1920s, 30s, and 40s music at the Hibernia Bank venue.
• Memento ModaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMemento Moda provides an elegant Photo Portrait Studio at the Art Deco Preservation Ball, adding a vintage photography experience to the event.
• Royal Society Jazz Orchestra (RSJO)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe RSJO is the Bay Area's premiere jazz orchestra and a favorite at ADSC events including Gatsby Summer Afternoon and Art Deco Preservation Ball. RSJO has been appearing at ADSC events since at least 1975 and has won ADSC Preservation Awards (2002, with Carla Normand).

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• San Francisco Heritage: Bay Area-focused historic preservation nonprofit with advocacy, education, and events programming. Comparable regional scope and member-driven nonprofit structure, though broader than Art Deco specifically.

Direct peers

• Miami Design Preservation League: Nonprofit founded in 1976 dedicated to preserving, promoting, and educating the public about Miami's Art Deco Historic District. Comparable in scope (preservation advocacy, walking tours, educational programming, advocacy) and slightly larger scale, making it a close comparable peer.
• Art Deco Society of Los Angeles: Sister California-based Art Deco preservation society that ADSC directly collaborates with through ICADS and World Art Deco Month. It focuses on landmarking efforts (e.g., Sontag Drugstore Building) in Southern California, mirroring ADSC's Northern California preservation advocacy.
• Art Deco Society of Washington D.C. Regional Art Deco society with overlapping preservation, educational, and event-driven mission; participates in ICADS-coordinated programming alongside ADSC and offers a directly comparable membership-and-events nonprofit model.
• Art Deco Society of New York: Sister organization with comparable mission (Art Deco preservation, education, advocacy) that ADSC supported in landmarking the McGraw-Hill Building lobby. Operates similar membership, events, and tour programming in the New York market.

Others

• Royal Society Jazz Orchestra: Bay Area jazz orchestra performing Deco-era repertoire that has partnered with ADSC since ~1975 and won ADSC Preservation Awards. Functions as an event and programming partner rather than a peer in mission.
• Living New Deal: Nonprofit that documents 1930s-1940s New Deal public works and art — directly intersecting with ADSC's coverage of New Deal post office murals and Streamline Moderne civic architecture. Functions as a content/research partner.
• International Coalition of Art Deco Societies (ICADS): Umbrella coalition of Art Deco societies worldwide that ADSC participates in to coordinate World Art Deco Month and cross-society programming. Functions as an ecosystem enabler rather than a direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• National Trust for Historic Preservation: Largest U.S. nonprofit focused on historic preservation across all eras and geographies. Overlaps with ADSC in landmark advocacy and public education but at national scale and with significantly broader programming.
• California Preservation Foundation: Statewide nonprofit dedicated to the preservation of California's diverse cultural heritage through advocacy, education, and training. Broader in scope than ADSC's Art Deco focus, but operates a similar nonprofit advocacy and education model in the same geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/artdecosocietyofcalifornia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/art-deco-society-of-california

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Art Deco Society Of California